Narcolepsy Drugs Market

 

Global Narcolepsy Drugs Market Forecast

The Narcolepsy Drugs Market is expected to grow from USD 4 Billion in 2026 to USD 7.5 Billion by 2033, reflecting strong industry expansion and registering a CAGR of 9.4% during the forecast period from 2026 to 2033.

As per the Narcolepsy Network, the neurological condition roughly affects one in every 2000 people in the U.S. Roughly 70% of the patients experience cataplexy, which is a sudden loss of muscle strength, manifesting in slurred speech and affected body movements. This hinders patients to perform with normal functionality at workplaces and in social situations. As per Narcolepsy UK, at least 25,000 people in UK are suffering from narcolepsy whereas 75% remains misdiagnosed.

The need to live a relatively normal life has urged patients to seek drugs for this debilitating ailment that can exert a significant emotional, social, and financial toll. Dysfunctional lifestyle that is result of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), automatic behaviours (walking or eating, in a semiconscious way), cataplexy, hallucinations, and sleep paralysis has created a demand for narcolepsy drugs. Though first symptoms appear between the years of 7 to 25, gradually reducing the patient’s ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles, narcolepsy remains undiagnosed for the majority.

According to Stanford Medicine Center for Narcolepsy, the condition has been termed as a frequent disorder. It remains the second leading cause of EDS after sleep apnea. Research conducted on the epidemiology of narcolepsy state an incidence of 0.2 to 1.6 per thousand across European countries, Japan, and the U.S. These statistics remain closest to that of Multiple Sclerosis, indicating an urgent need to wake up the call of treating this crippling condition for patients with early diagnosis.

The awareness around narcolepsy is on the rise recently, mostly because of the campaigns from patient advocacy groups, and welfare associations, viz. Narcolepsy Network Inc., European Narcolepsy Network, American Sleep Association, and Wake Up Narcolepsy. This remains a strong factor supporting the growth of the global narcolepsy drugs market.

Narcolepsy with Cataplexy Dominates Global Narcolepsy Drugs Market

Narcolepsy has two main types based on the presence of cataplexy, type 1, which is narcolepsy with cataplexy and type 2, which is narcolepsy without cataplexy. There is also a condition known as secondary narcolepsy, resulting out of the hypothalamus injury. As per the study of the National Sleep Foundation, almost 60-70% of narcoleptic patients suffer from type 1 narcolepsy. Moreover, cataplexy is the confirming symptom for the conclusive diagnosis of narcolepsy, although it is rarely the first symptom of narcolepsy. Some patients, even when treated, may develop cataplexy as a new symptom over the time. This segment is expected to hold the largest in the global narcolepsy drugs market as it is poised to capture 68% market share by 2026. On the other hand, type 2 narcolepsy is the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period 2021-2026 with 11.9% CAGR, attributable to the rapid increase in public awareness regarding the disease.

Sodium Oxybate and Selective Serotonin to Hold Promise for Patients Boosting Uptake

Narcolepsy has no complete cure; however, drug therapies are employed to improve the patients’ quality of life. There are two approved drug classes for narcolepsy treatment, including stimulants such as modafinil, amodafonil, antidepressents, and tricuclicals, and selective serotonin that includes nor-adrenegic reuptake inhibitors and sodium oxybate. Sodium oxybate is a preferred prescription drug for narcolepsy. It is also anticipated to exhibit robust growth rate during the forecast period as it remains the best-known drug for marginally improving the condition for patients.

Sodum oxybate is retailed under the name Xyrem and has FDA approval for treating cataplexy and associated EDS. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (ASSM) has recommended Xyrem as gold standard for narcolepsy with EDS and cataplexy. It can be reimbursed under Medicare and Medicaid. Moreover, manufacturers extend assistance programmes for patients without insurance coverage. The report estimates that the sodium oxybate segment will make a contribution of ~52% to the global narcolepsy drugs market in 2021.

Meanwhile, psychostimulants will lose on market share owing to patent expiration of Provigil and Nuvigil, predicts Fairfield Market Research. A few other stimulants and antidepressants are also used as off-label narcolepsy drugs. Lifestyle modifications such as diet control, exercise, and regular napping can also help patients manage disease symptoms. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs are not available yet, specifically for the paediatric narcolepsy treatment.

Growing Research Activities Around Narcolepsy Treatment to Support Drugs Innovation

In the U.S., the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) along with National Institutes of Health (NIH) and several other facilities and centres support research on narcolepsy through grants. Moreover, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute manages the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research (NCSDR), which provides support to the U.S. Federal Government on sleep research activities to educate the public and healthcare professionals. NINDS-sponsored researchers are conducting studies devoted to clarifying the range of genetic -HLA genes and non-HLA genes, and environmental factors that may cause narcolepsy. 

Other investigators are using animal models to better understand hypocretin, and other chemicals such as glutamate that may play a key role in regulating sleep, and wakefulness. Scientists have also demonstrated the presence of unusual activity of the immune system in people with narcolepsy. The NINDS continues to support investigations into the basic biology of sleep such as examining the brain mechanisms involved in generating, and regulating REM sleep and other sleep behaviours.

Developed Countries Hold a Majority of Market; Asia Pacific to Register Solid Demand Growth

Currently, North America dominates the global narcolepsy drugs market, surging ahead with a CAGR of 11.3% between the forecast years of 2021 and 2026. Europe follows closely as the pandemic unravelled a spectrum of sleep disorders.

The NINDS estimates that around 200,000 people in the U.S. alone are living with narcolepsy. The growing demand for sleep disorder treatment in the U.S. and Canada, coupled with high healthcare expenditure is expected to fuel the market growth in North America. Moreover, favourable reimbursement policies, and strong clinical pipeline are the other factors to boost the revenue growth in this region. In Europe, the H1N1 influenza pandemic had resulted in heightening prevalence of sleep-related disorders.

Asia Pacific, on the other hand, is anticipated to witness lucrative growth over the forecast period. Shift-work sleep disorder and increased stress levels are expected to expand the patient base in Asia Pacific. These factors may contribute to the growing demand for drugs in these economies. Constantly improving healthcare reimbursement policies are expected to boost demand further over the forecast period.

This regional market will also benefit from the improving living standards. The region is set to exhibit lucrative growth during the forecast period on account of growing awareness about narcolepsy, and consistently growing healthcare expenditure. While populous economies like India, and China will facilitate further market growth in the region, Japan already has high narcolepsy prevalence.

Prominent Players in Global Narcolepsy Drugs Market

• Jazz Pharmaceuticals
• Harmony Biosciences
• Takeda Pharmaceutical Company
• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
• Bioprojet Pharma
• Novartis
• Shionogi & Co.
• Axsome Therapeutics
• Eli Lilly and Company

The Global Narcolepsy Drugs Market is Segmented as Below

By narcolepsy type

• Narcolepsy with cataplexy (Type 1)
• Narcolepsy without cataplexy (Type 2)
• Secondary narcolepsy

By symptom / indication

• Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)
• Cataplexy

By therapeutic class

• Sodium oxybate therapies
• CNS stimulants / wake-promoting agents
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• SSRIs/SNRIs and other anticataplectic therapies
• Emerging orexin receptor agonists

By Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East & Africa